Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Haymarket Bicycles/SEAVS completed its domination of the Howard County Double Cross elite races with two more top finishes at Rockburn Cross, race #9 in the BikeReg.com MABRAcross series. Jared Nieters, Haymarket boss and Verge Sport MABRAcross points leader, took the top spot for the elite men and Patty Buerkle capped off the weekend sweep by winning the women's race.

Race organizer Adventures for the Cure had the Rockburn course dialed in and Mother Nature did her part to deliver another spectacular day for racing and spectating. With the MABRAcross series coming to a close, the Howard County Double Cross served as a make or break weekend. The time to once and for all weed out the pretenders from the contenders.

In the men's elite race Wes Schempf (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) found himself in a familiar position: sandwiched between two Haymarket riders. But instead of having to chase Joe Dombrowski for an hour, it was Haymarket rider Stephen "Steevo" Cummings setting the early pace with teammate and Verge Sport points leader Jared Nieters slotted in behind Schempf. Steevo kept the pace high for the first third of the race before dropping to third as Schempf hit the front. The C3 rider went full out through the technical back section of the Rockburn cross but was unable to drop Nieters who eventually took the lead and the victory. Cummings fought back to second place giving Haymarket another one, two finish.

John Minturn (AXA CRCA) had a strong race to finish third. Pat Blair (Adventures for the Cure) traded in his race organizer cap for a cycling helmet and put in a great effort to finish fourth. Ryan Fawley (Trek Mtn Co-Op) held off the rest of the field to claim the final spot on the podium.

In the women's elite race Patty Buerkle (Haymarket/SEAVS) took the holeshot and never looked back. She opened up a minute and a half lead on the field and coasted to her second win of the weekend and sixth in the series. Even with extra points available at next week's MABRAcross championship, with this win, Buerkle clinched the final Verge Sport points leader jersey. Allyson Tufano (NVRC/Cardio Sports Lab) finished the day with a well-deserved second place. Elizabeth Harlow (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) finished third, Marni Harker (Team Kenda) took the fourth spot and Laura Hanlon (Fuji) slotted into the final podium spot.

More than any other race on the schedule, the masters elite was truly a showdown for the leader jersey. Dave Weaver (ALAN) spent a second straight day at the front of the field taking the victory by 25 seconds over the always strong Blair Saunders (Ben's Performance Bikes). Paul Rades (GamJams), coming back strong after a rib injury at DCCX, held off a pair of heavy hitters to finish third.

The real race, however, was 30 seconds off the lead in fourth and fifth place. Before the weekend, Mike Birner (Ben's Performance Bikes) held a nine point lead over Kris Auer (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) in the Verge Sport leader jersey competition. At Schooley Mill, Auer finished third and Birner finished fifth. That gave Auer a one point lead over Birner and the jersey. In other words, whoever crossed the line first between these two riders would wear the jersey going into next week's BikeReg.com MABRAcross finale.

The oft-repeated NASCAR adage "rubbing is racing" is not out of place in many cyclocross races, and never was that more on display than the battle that went down between Birner and Auer. There was contact in the sandpit, contact in the woods. These two were putting on the type of show that the jersey competition was created for. In the end, Birner was able to gain some ground over Auer, crossing the line in fourth place. Auer came across in fifth place knowing he would have to give back the jersey he had captured the day before. With only four points separating Birner and Auer, there is no doubt this battle will resume in Taneytown Sunday at high noon.

In the Masters 55+ race, Randall Root (Evolution) took a sabbatical from the elite masters race with one goal in mind: win the coveted date night from the Intercontinental Harbor Court Baltimore. This is the type of prize that is a bike racer's dream. As cool as it may be, no spouse is impressed by a prize bag that contains a six pack of beer and some new socks. But come through that door with a one-night stay at a five-star hotel and you may be able to race guilt free for an entire year.

Root successfully completed his mission, riding away from the 55+ field and securing the date night prize. Fred Wittwer (ALAN) came in second with Jim Bronson (Patapsco Bike and Sport) not far behind. Those two riders will also battle it out for the leaders jersey at the final race.

Rebecca Frederick (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) put in a weekend’s worth of race organizing but saved just enough energy to win the Cat 3 Women race at Schooley Mill and Rockburn. Matt Carroll (Evolution) topped the Masters 3/4 field and Sean O'Donnell (TOMS Shoes) won the 3/4 event. Andrew Massomnneau (Winchester Wheelmen) won the Men's Cat 4 race and Sarah Crosskey took home first place honors in the Women's Cat 4.

The BikeReg.com MABRAcross series holds its final 2010 race next Sunday. The MABRAcross championship will take place in Taneytown, Md. More information can be found by following the links on the schedule at MABRAcross.org.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Schooley Mill Cross, now in its second year as part of the BikeReg.com MABRAcross series offered up racers a revamped course on the stellar equestrian grounds of this pristine Howard County park in Maryland. Last year’s course had been lauded by some for its attendance to the needs of so-called power riders. This year that characteristic was retained but the addition of a 3 distinct technical course features helped neutralize the advantage of those big guns, though if those big guns are big enough they still win!

Though ground frost greeted the cat 4 registrants the temperatures had risen to a balmy 55 degrees by the time the elite races got rolling. Conditions were dry and sunny with occasional strong gust of wind.

In the Kelly Benefit Strategies Elite Women’s 1,2 race every racer was guaranteed a podium spot. MABRAcross leader Patty Buerkle (Haymarket / SEAVES) took the holeshot and proceeded to work away from a chasing Elizabeth Harlow (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) and Allyson Tufano (NVRC/Cardio Sports Lab). Riding smoothly and efficiently a dominant Buerkle had 12 seconds on the chasing duo at the end of lap one. Harlow led the chase with Tufano dangling for a spell but on lap 3 Harlow bobbled at the barriers and the NVRC/Cardio Sports Lab rider attacked with vigor to open a gap Harlow could not close. Buerkle rolled through the finish with authority for 1st followed by Tufano in 2nd and Harlow in 3rd.

The Kelly Benefit Strategies Elite men’s race saw 19 racers toe the line. John Minturn (AXA-CRCA) got the holeshot with Ryan DeWald (Haymarket / SEAVES) and Wes Schempf (C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes) in tow. Lap one saw a group of six separate with Sam O’Keefe (C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes) and Patrick Blair (Adventures for the cure) trying desperately to hold on. In short order the 6 were away. Minturn, Schempf, DeWald, Adam Driscoll (Adventures for the Cure), Stephen Cummings (Haymarket / SEAVES) and MABRAcross leader Jared Nieters (Haymarket / SEAVES) worked back and forth to sort out the pecking order. DeWald played the role if instigator, attacking on every rise and charging up the start/finish strip each lap as if it was the last leaving pain and confusion in his wake. On lap 4 this move stuck and the elastic snapped as DeWald moved away from Schempf and Nieters while Cummings, Minturn and Driscoll work to reel in the chasing duo. With 4 laps remaining DeWald’s gap had grown to 27 seconds and the Schempf/Nieters tandem had been reeled in by Cummings and Minturn while Driscoll dangled a few feet behind. With 2 to go Nieters launched a vicious attack on the starting strip to shatter his group. It stuck as Schempf, Minturn and Cummings struggle. DeWald continued to power forward while Nieters flew solo behind. At the line it was DeWald for the win, followed by Nieters, Cummings, Minturn and Schempf.

In the Elite Masters Race Dave Weaver Rode clear of the field on the first lap and stayed well away to win on the day. Behind him a group of 10 rode their race contesting the last 4 spots on the podium and battling for series. With only 19 points separating the top three series racers the pressure was on. Our group of 10 stayed together through the mid-point of the race before it began to fracture. Paul Rades (GamJams/Pre-Reg.com p/b Cutaway Clothing) separated himself from the chase and rode clear. Behind him Kris Auer (C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes) secured 3rd while Jay Morali (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) finished off a great day by out-maneuvering current series leader Michael Birner (Ben’s Performance Bikes) at the line. Auer ‘s 3rd place over Birner’s 5th moves him back into the series lead with only two MABRAcross races remaining.

As many of you have heard, Brian Fouche (ABRT) suffered a serious medical event during the Elite Men’s race. Several racers, including some who were racing right behind Brian in the elite race, responded to render aid. Brian was transported to the hospital and is now much improved. In the words of Mike Hefner (ABRT) “Thank you to those who responded to Brian. You are Heroes”. ABRT will provide more information on how Brian is faring when it becomes available. We join all of the cyclocross and racing community in wishing Brian a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to racing.